avionbianca   Blog for s/v Avion

July 12 2014 aka watch rotation # 25
Well just as we thought the wind was going to fill in it seem that the fickle wind gods and the ever changing Pacific High have decided otherwise. We are currently cruising at about 4 knots in about 5 knots of wind sigh. Every now and then a cloud with some wind comes through and things get exciting with anything form 8 – 17 knots of wind comes through and we all get hopeful that finally we will have some wind to bring us to the trade winds (typically moderately strong warm winds that are very consistent) and the sunshine. However, these clouds are short lived and we are back to sailing in light variable winds 2- 6 knots. Today we finally got to put a spinnaker back up and it seem to be holding steady. Until now we have been sailing with the jib topper mostly with a few attempts to fly a spinnaker that were short lived due either to a lack of wind to keep it full or clouds with too much wind. I have taken up a trick I learned from my sister and her friends at a party where they kept track of how many drinks they had by keeping a sharpie tally on their fore arms. I am doing the same thing except with headsail changes and I currently have 11 tally marks on my right forearm. There has been a bit of excitement when we went to check the oil last night and found a quart of oil in the bilge. The leak was resolved after a few hours of the boat being torn apart and we were very thankful for the light winds for at least the period of time we working on the engine. We are anxiously watching the weather hoping for some wind as of the latest forecast it looks like we will get some good wind by Monday. That is good news as at this rate we are in it for another 12 days, which was our prediction for the entire race. Final note the crew on Avion decided to celebrate my birthday in style! The got out saucicon cheese and crackers. Also they gave me for my birthday gift a bottle tequila by the name of Avion! Which of course we promptly polished off! All of this followed by the first really visible sunset and the most gorgeous moon rise I have ever seen

Le 12 Juillet 2012 ou plutot quart # 25
Just aux moment ou on croxais que le vent etait en train de se etablir les dieux du vent on decider autrement. A ce moment on avance a 4 knoeuds avec 5 knoeuds de vent. De temps en temps un nuage nous amenne du vent entre 8 et 17 knoeuds ety tout l’equippage espere que ca contunuira qusque aux vent de commerce (typicquement dees vent chaud et consistent) et le soleil. Malherusement, ca ne dur pas et on et rendu a essayer de fair avance Avion aux plus vite dans 2-6 knoeuds de vent. Aujourdhui on a finalment mis le spi et ils semble que ca va durer. Jusqque a present on avais le ” Jib Topper” malgrais deux essais a mettres un spi qu il non pas durer longtemps. A ce mment J’ai arde compte des changement de voiles en feutre sur mon bras droit. Heir on a eu un des avantures avec le motor qui c’est mis fuir de l’huile. On a trouver un litre d’huile sous le plancher du bateaux. On a reparer la fuite apr quelques heurs out on avias tout demonter dans le bateaux. Aux moins pendent ces quelques heurs on etait bien content des vents faibles… On regarde constament la meteo et ils semblerais que le vent vas monter lundi ce qui est bien, comme a c’ette allure on n’arrive pas avant 12 jours, ce que on pensais fair pour la course entire. Finalment ce soir l’equipage de avion on decide de me faire une petite surprise pour mon anniversair!ils on sortie un saucicon de fromage et des crackers. Et comme cadeaux ils m’ont offert une bouteille de tequila qui s’aappelle Avion quue, bien sur on a vite finis! Tout ca suivi pars le premier coucheer de soleil que on a puet vraiment voir et le plus beaux lever de lune que je n’ais jamais veux!